理论分析高中英语近义词教学策略(4)

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·Context Method: The relation between words, phrases, sentences and contexts.

·Association Method: Establish relation between new information and already known information.

·Word Formation: Use prefix, suffix and root to enlarge vocabulary.

·Lexicography: Use a dictionary to get the access to vocabulary and information.

Those vocabulary teaching strategies collected above concern with the isolated words themselves as well as the words in contexts. They are reasonable to some degree and they have the theoretical basis but they are not absolutely settled and not all of the teaching strategies can be applied in specific vocabulary teaching.

2.2.3 The Present Situation of Vocabulary Teaching in High School

According to New English Curriculum Criteria for Senior High School, the basic knowledge of English that senior school students should learn and master includes pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, function and topics.

The English courses in high school are pided into four levels: the sixth level, the seventh level, the eighth level and the ninth level. It is claimed that there is no specific correspondence between those four levels and the three grades. That is to say, students in senior high school can apply for the tests of each level respectively.

When it comes to the goals of vocabulary teaching, the objectives of three levels are given as follow (the curriculum just provides three levels):

The Seventh Level:

·Students are able to understand the different functions, intentions, attitudes, etc. indicated by words and expressions in communication.

·Students are able to name the objectives, describe behaviors and characteristics, explain concepts, etc.

·Students are able to use about 2400-2500 words and 300-400 idioms or collocations.

·Students know the change of the meaning of words and the coined vocabulary in daily life.

The Eighth Level:

·Students are able to understand and express different functions, intentions, attitudes, etc.

·Students are able to describe complex things, behaviors and characteristics, explain concepts, etc.

·Students are able to use about 3000 words and 400-500 idioms or collocations.

The Ninth Level:

·Students are able to use about 4500 words and a certain amount of idioms or collocations.

·Students are able to choose relatively appropriate words to communicate or express themselves according to some relevant factors like the communicative topic, the occasion, the interpersonal relationship, etc.

So, in high school, although students have had at least seven years of learning English and they have learned some vocabulary, necessary attention still should be paid to teach vocabulary because a certain amount of vocabulary is required accordingly at different levels.